Hot Topics:

Investigative teams continue research into WIPP leak

CARLSBAD >> Crews at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant began the long process of investigating the radiation leak underground at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, located 26 miles east of Carlsbad.

Two teams explored the area immediately next to the operations base in the south mine on Saturday to kick off Phase 3 of underground recovery and did not find any contamination.

Crews are expected to make several future treks below ground to scan further into the salt mine before the investigation is complete and have not yet made it to Panels 7 and 8 where the transuranic waste is stored.

Plutonium and Americium were detected by a continuous air monitor downwind of Panel 7 on Feb. 14.